Paediatric use of mexiletine and disopyramide.

Abstract

Paediatric use of mexiletine and disopyramideLife-threatening arrhythmias, although not common in infancy, present a recurring clinical problem and choosing a suitable drug is often difficult.The difficulty is compounded by the paucity of information on both the efficacy and dosage of the newer anti- arrhythmic drugs in children.Mexiletine and disopyramide, two orally effective and potentially valuable drugs, are cases in point.We report two cases in which these drugs were used and in which the dosage was modified according to plasma concentration measurements. Case reportsCase 1-A girl born in July 1978, whose pregnancy, birth, and routine neonatal examination were normal, was admitted to hospital aged 10 days cyanosed, with signs of cardiac failure, and an apex rate of 300 beats/min.The ECG was interpreted as a supraventricular tachycardia and she was digitalised.After three days there were no signs of heart failure but her on 20 August